HAMMERTOWNE

HAMMERTOWNE
HILLBILLY HEROES

Mountain Fever
MFR 170602

This is the third release from the Kentucky-based band Hammertowne. It’s the same five guys returning. Bandmembers David Carroll, Bryan Russell, and Brent Pack had a hand in writing eight of the twelve songs, drawing on Bill Castle, Del McCoury, Jerry Dill, and Evan Maynard for the rest. Carroll wrote six, Russell one, and Pack the solid closing instrumental, “Lights And Sirens.” Of all those, no less than seven deserve mentioning and three of those merit a little extra praise. The Castle and McCoury songs, “The Dream” and “I’m Lonely For My Only,” would be among the former, along with Carroll’s gritty “Don’t Ever Cross A Moonshine Man” and “Scorcher Carroll’s Farm.” They’re good songs with either a captivating melody or interesting hooks and wordplay.

Maynard’s “Rainy Old River Town” and Carroll’s “Bluer By The Minute” and “A Day In The Life Of The One Left Behind” go them one better. They’re just fine songs all around. The Carroll songs, in particular, feature the kind of clever lyrics that you find yourself listening for, as in his memorable chorus line from “A Day In The Life…” Last Friday, next Sunday, may as well be Monday. That’s a great line in a fine song on a very good recording. (Mountain Fever, 1177 Alum Ridge Rd. NW, Willis, VA 24380, www.mountainfever.com.)BW